Now, the 37-year-old faces fresh speculation within the South about his health again. But this point , it's because he's noticeably slimmer.
The health of North Korea n leader Kim Jong Un has long been a source of morbid fascination in rival South Korea , which sits within the shadow of Kim's 1.2-million-strong army and his growing arsenal of nuclear-armed missiles.
Has he gained even more weight? Is he struggling for breath after relatively short walks? What that cane? Why did he miss that important state anniversary?
Now, the 37-year-old faces fresh speculation within the South about his health again. But this point , it's because he's noticeably slimmer.
Kim’s health matters in Seoul, Washington, Tokyo and other world capitals because he hasn’t publicly anointed a successor who would control an advancing nuclear program targeting the us and its allies — if he's incapacitated. North Korea, never open about the interior workings of its leadership, has over the last year shut itself up even tighter to guard against the coronavirus pandemic.
In recent state media images, including those published on Wednesday, Kim seemed to have lost an outsized amount of weight. The strap on his fancy watch is tighter, and his face thinner. Some observers say Kim — who is about 170 centimeters (5 feet, 8 inches) tall and has previously weighed 140 kilograms (308 pounds) — may have lost about 10-20 kilograms (22-44 pounds).
Kim's apparent weight loss is more likely an effort to enhance his health, instead of a symbol of illness, consistent with Hong Min, a senior analyst at Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification.
“If he was experiencing health problems, he wouldn’t have begin publicly to convene the plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party’s Central Committee,” a serious political conference in the week that's expected to last two to 3 days, Hong said.
Kim, known for heavy drinking and smoking, comes from a family with a history of heart problems. His father and grandfather, who ruled North Korea before him, both died of heart issues. Experts have said his weight could increase the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it's no information to share about Kim’s health. His slimmer look has been the main target of keen interest in South Korea , with media outlets publishing phots of his previous and current appearances.
Seo Yu-Seok at the Seoul-based Institute of North Korean Studies said the North’s recent creation of a primary secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party, the country’s No. 2 job, may need been associated with Kim’s possible health issues. He said Kim may have allowed the post’s establishment at the urging of top officials but still hasn't named anyone to the work because it could loosen his grip on power.
“If Kim faces a true ill health and is during a condition during which he can’t express his opinions, though he isn't dead, who will make a choice to call the primary secretary?” Seo said.
When global speculation flared about Kim’s health last year after he missed the commemoration of the birthday of his late grandfather, some analysts speculated Kim’s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was next in line to inherit her brother's power. Others said a collective leadership was also possible.
